Abstract

Coastal zone of Sabah contains valuable natural resources, including mangrove, swamps, sandy beaches and coral reefs and very sensitive to human activity. Since 1999, the development of beach resort in Sabah coastal area required an environmental impact assessment report if the proposed activity is prescribed under Conservation of Environment (prescribed Activities) Order 1999. Specific guidelines
for several prescribed activities have been published by Environment Protection Department of Sabah to provide project proponent and environmental consultants guidance and suggestions in preparing an EIA report. However, there are no specific EIA guidelines for beach resort development activities in Sabah even though the activities of beach resort development is increasing due to booming of tourism sector in Sabah. Through this study, suggested EIA guidelines for beach resort construction in Sabah have been produced. It is done through an adoption from EIA guidelines for others prescribed activities and modification of EIA guidelines for coastal resort development projects from The Federal. These suggested guidelines will cover four
main components in an EIA study, Sabah context, environmental impact, mitigation measures and monitoring. EIA guidelines for beach resort projects will facilitate the
process of EIA study and therefore improve the quality of EIA report. It provides the project proponents and environmental consultant a better illustration about the
requirement and suggestion to refer to during the EIA study of the proposed projects.